Next-Gen Secure FinTech for Digital Financial Inclusion Using Interledger

Farnaz Farid — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:55:35 +0000

Our Team: Farnaz Farid, Rina Datt, Robert Beutel, Ala Al-Areqi, Farhad Ahamed, Western Sydney University, Australia

As the global financial ecosystem moves toward decentralized and inclusive infrastructure, the need for open, interoperable, and secure payment technologies has never been greater. Western Sydney University (WSU) is proud to propose 'Next-Gen Secure FinTech for Digital Financial Inclusion Using Interledger', a comprehensive initiative designed to promote education, innovation, and community empowerment through the Interledger Protocol (ILP).
Leveraging the Interledger Architecture and ILP Stack, this project aims to position WSU and the broader Western Sydney region as a regional leader in open payments education, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

SDG 4 – Quality Education
SDG 5 – Gender Equality
SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

Through interdisciplinary curriculum development, student-led innovation, and community outreach, this project will foster a new generation of secure, inclusive, and interoperable FinTech applications powered by ILP.

At the core of this educational initiative lies an integrated eight-week module embedded within the Bachelor of Cyber Security and Behaviour and Bachelor of Business programs. Carefully structured around the (ILP) stack, the module offers a scaffolded yet deeply interconnected learning experience that synthesizes technical rigor with applied innovation. Rather than treating the protocol's layers as discrete units, the curriculum encourages students to explore the Interledger ecosystem as a dynamic, interoperable framework, one that addresses foundational challenges in global value exchange, digital identity, compliance, and security. For example, this program seeks to:

Embed a new ILP-focused module in the Bachelor of Cyber Security and Behaviour and Bachelor of Business programs.
Host a FinTech Hackathon where students design ILP-enabled applications and test them through red/blue team cybersecurity exercises.
Organize a FinTech Career Day to connect students with industry professionals in digital finance and open payments.
Facilitate a Community Day showcasing safe digital payments for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
Create an Open-Source Learning Hub of ILP resources hosted through GitHub.
Host an annual Community, Industry, and Academic Conference to bring together all project stakeholders, showcase student work, and advance dialogue on open payments.
Introduce a Student Microgrant Program to provide direct financial support for student-led ILP projects.

We have now started designing our curriculum modules and planning the conference logistics and the hackathon. We have also started to plan the community day.

The Interledger Community 🌱: Farnaz Farid

Next-Gen Secure FinTech for Digital Financial Inclusion Using Interledger